Putin Accountability Act

Putin Accountability Act

This bill imposes sanctions pertaining to Russia and addresses related issues.

The President must impose sanctions, with some exceptions, on

• individuals and entities that knowingly and directly provide specialized financial messaging services to Russia's central bank (or enables access to such services);
• entities responsible for constructing, financing, or operating Nord Stream 2 (a pipeline constructed to increase Russian natural gas exports) and the corporate officers and controlling shareholders of such entities;
• individuals and entities in Russia involved in kleptocracy, Russian government activities to subvert U.S. democratic institutions and interests, or Russian government disinformation campaigns against the United States; and
• entities that are Russian state development corporations, as well as any officials of such an entity.

The President must impose property-blocking sanctions on such individuals and entities and also visa-blocking sanctions on the individuals.

The President must also (1) issue regulations to prohibit U.S. individuals and entities from dealing in Russian sovereign debt; and (2) issue a determination as to whether certain specified Russian individuals meet the criteria to be subject to sanctions under various authorities, including this bill.

The Department of State must (1) designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, and (2) report to Congress a determination of whether Russia-affiliated armed entities in the Donbas region of Ukraine meet the criteria to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations.

The bill prohibits expending funds to engage with Russia's government on cyber issues or arms control negotiations until certain conditions have been met.

The Bill 117 hr 6422, also known as the Putin Accountability Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress aimed at holding Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for his actions. The bill includes a number of provisions designed to increase pressure on Putin and his government.

One key provision of the bill is the imposition of new sanctions on Russia, targeting individuals and entities that are involved in corruption, human rights abuses, or undermining democratic institutions. These sanctions would restrict their access to the US financial system and freeze their assets.

The bill also calls for increased support for pro-democracy activists and civil society organizations in Russia, as well as for efforts to counter Russian disinformation and propaganda. It also includes measures to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation between the US and its allies to better defend against Russian cyber attacks. Additionally, the bill requires the US government to report on Putin's personal wealth and assets, as well as on any human rights abuses or corruption committed by him or his associates. This information would be used to further target sanctions and other measures against Putin and his inner circle. Overall, the Putin Accountability Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation aimed at increasing pressure on Putin and his government for their actions. It seeks to hold them accountable for their behavior and to support efforts to promote democracy and human rights in Russia.